The long-awaited Children's Green Paper which includes plans for a champion of children's rights was being unveiled today.

It aims to ensure there is no repeat of the horrific death suffered by eight-year-old Victoria Climbie, who was tortured under the professionals' noses by her aunt, Marie-Terese Kouao and her boyfriend, Carl Manning.

Other measures are expected to aim to make schools the centre of many services for under-18s and their families.

It is also expected to urge workers in various services that have an impact on children to work much more closely together and the commissioner's role could include ensuring this happens.

The creation of a Children's Commissioner will bring England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has called for the commissioner to have the power to influence policy and carry out investigations.